April 22, 2012
Underrated Pacers, the top team in April
The Indiana Pacers hold the top record in the NBA for the month of April. Only losing two games during their 13 games in April, the Pacers are certainly becoming a top story in the league. After Philadelphia broke their seven-game winning streak, they now have a record of 41-22, enough to secure home court advantage in the first round of the playoffs.
If Indiana can hold the third spot in the bracket, they will most likely face the Orlando Magic. Orland hasn’t been playing up to their potential since the Dwight Howard saga continued to spawn out more backlash towards the organization. Now that he is out for the season to surgically repair a herniated disc in his back, the Magic will face a more confident Pacers squad in recent years.
With forward Danny Granger leading the team in scoring, and their low-post threats, Roy Hibbert and David West, the Pacers have a solid foundation to make a playoff run this season. The low-post game is Orlando’s most glaring weakness because Howard is gone.
Coach Frank Vogel should be credited for his successful tenure there. He has improved his career record to 61-41. Vogel also has brought the Pacers into a stronger spot in the standings. Last year, they were lucky to grab the eighth seed, only to be eliminated by the Chicago Bulls in five games. This year, they have a better shot of advancing past the first round.
I don’t see them defeating either the Miami Heat or the New York Knicks, who could be their potential matchup in the Eastern Conference Semifinals, but they have won games against both squads, thus proving why they rank amongst the top teams in the league. They don’t receive all the attention they deserve, but if they could reach the Conference Finals, the word “underrated” will already be overused